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Michael Nathan “Conga King”

Europe / London / England

Michael Nathan Conga King hails from London, England (South Kensington) and now resides in California’s Bay Area. He’s a percussionist/conguero, specializing in Latin, Funk, R&B, Dance, POP, House, Neo Soul and Old School.

Conga King plays weekends in the Bay Area with International DJ’s at some of the hottest clubs including Alameda Islands, The Churchward Pub as well as with his band, MeritageMusic, at wineries, tasting rooms and hotels throughout Northern California’s Wine Country.

Conga King ordered his custom set of Gon Bops California Series back in 2005 and has been playing them exclusively ever since. Playing a quinto, conga, tumba, super tumba, bongos and a cajon, Michael Nathan is all-in with Gon Bops!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMichaelNathan

Good initiatives must be shared!

North America - United States - New York

We were taking the Salsa exhibition to Puerto Rico for the I Encuentro de Coleccionistas de Salsa, we made an exhibition of the clothing, records and instruments used by the Fania All Star orchestra, Tito Puente, Héctor Lavoe, Adalberto Santiago, the Gran Combo and others. For the first time, the last “tuxedo” that Tito Puente used in his participation with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico was exhibited.

Spanish Harlem Salsa Music Gallery, offered an exhibition and Master Class on the history of Salsa at the Escuela Especializada en Música Jesús T. Piñero in Cidra, Puerto Rico. We transported ourselves to Puerto Rico in search of an opportunity to publicize the Salsa Museum-Gallery in New York.

This is part of the efforts being made for the participation and dedication that is made to the people of Cidra in the Desfile Nacional Puertorriqueño 2020 and that is locally coordinated by the Patronato Cidreño along with other civic and professional organizations.

We were able to benefit hundreds of students at this school who are precisely focused on music. The knowledge offered in the three conferences and being able to closely observe the exhibition helped to foster the enthusiasm of the students who make up the campus, unique in the mountains of Puerto Rico, dedicated to the creation of good musicians and knowledgeable in musical art.

We are dedicated to enhancing Latin music and offering spaces focused on arts education, accessible and friendly to the community as a strategic partner.

I thank valuable people such as Laura Torres, Silkia Vázquez, Wilson Nazario and Wilfrido Torres “Puruco” for all the attention and teamwork that we were able to develop during our visit. I cannot stop also thanking my assistant in Puerto Rico, Carmen Cruz; and to Joseph Cruz for his magnificent and beautiful work with me during this pleasant experience.

I also take advantage of this space in International Salsa Magazine because I want to tell you about an artist and a great friend who is doing his best for music and Salsa. Without a doubt, Yova Rodríguez is a long-standing professional who has developed countless projects and initiatives to support those who need it most. With his music, his work and his human quality, he has reached many hearts from New York.

Geovanni “Yova” Rodríguez Ruiz, born in Puerto Rico, had a musical inspiration since he was a child, his uncle Antonio “Toño” Ruiz – his mother’s uncle who played the cuatro – was his first music teacher (melody) and his uncle José Antonio “Pipo” Ruiz Crespo -mama’s younger brother- taught him how to sing aguinaldos (lyrics); and with this they formed the solid foundations that encouraged little Yova to prepare himself accordingly for his foray into the musical world.

The celebration of the Promesa de Reyes, a celebration in which he participated with his mother at his short seven years, leads him to worry about creating and recreating aguinaldos to be interpreted each year, which in some way becomes the seed of composer that we know today.

At the age of 14, he attended the Escuela Libre de Música Ernesto Ramos Antonini in Mayagüez, hand in hand with piano teacher César Toro, rising as vocal leader of the Orchestra after a year.

Years later he gave himself the task of forming his own musical concept, and thus Sakao Aká was born. This orchestra was in charge of accompanying singers such as Camilo Azuquita, Ray de la Paz, Pupy Cantor and Herman Olivera in their presentations in Puerto Rico; and the cover letter for some of these singers to integrate Yova as a chorus girl in their presentations in various countries in Central and South America.

At the end of the 90s, on a trip to Cuba, he was impacted by the music of Fernando Borrego Linares, better known as Polo Montañez, to the point that, some years later upon learning of his death, he had the idea of paying tribute to him, his musical reference, thus giving birth to the idea for her debut feature Homenaje a Polo Montañez (2005), a production of 10 songs by Montañez, and covered by Yova Rodríguez with the participation of renowned musicians from the patio such as Herman Olivera, Héctor “Pichie ”Pérez, Papo Lucca, Edwin“ Caneca ”Rosas, Edwin Colón Zayas, among others.

In 2008, like many of her compatriots, Yova prepares her luggage and heads to the southern United States, where she stays for two years and then moves to New York, a city that has become her center of operations and from where He has extended his working ties as a composer and where he records his next two productions.

The album Letras, canciones y sueños, musical work of 8 songs all written by Yova, comes to light after some years of having published his first production and of having worked silently composing and waiting for his opportunity. This possibility is materialized in 2013.

Already in 2015, the album Mi musa en las voces de mis amigos is released.

Recently, Yova Rodríguez has created more than 420 songs, and many of them have been duly registered with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Editors (ASCAP) under the registry “El Negrito De Delia Music” . “Exceso de amor” is the first composition he has interpreted and recorded; like the song “No me odies”, it is the first recording of a song by him made by a third party.

Now they are going to hear more from Yova, as some productions that will include her compositions are in the process of recording / publishing. Attentive to the upcoming releases of the young Puerto Rican percussionist José Jomar Marcano, the master trumpeter Luis González, the young trombonist, arranger musician and also singer Leo Morales; the renowned DJ Andy Rodríguez, better known as DJ ANDY and the Venezuelan sonero Marcial Isturiz .

As always, remember that Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery is in 1708 Lexington ave New York N.Y. 10029. Open free to the public all Thursdays & Fridays from 4 to 7 pm and Saturdays from 1 to 8 pm. Check the updates in our website: spahasalsagallery.com.

Also, The Johnny Cruz Show, the # 1 Salsa Show on television on all 5 Boroughs of New York on CH67. Saturdays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

Contact: Johnny Cruz. 917-747-8505. [email protected]

By Johnny Cruz, ISM Correspondent, New York, New York

Gon Bops

USA / Los Ángeles / California

Gon Bops, Remains one of the oldest and most respected manufacturers of Latin instruments in the world

The Gon Bops legend began in 1954 California when Mexican-American Mariano Bobadilla (born in Guadalajara) – who would go on to become one of the most highly-regarded conga builders in the percussion industry – started designing and building Conga and Bongo drums.

A band instrument repairman and professional trumpet player, Bobadilla launched Gon Bops in his father’s old wooden garage in a downtown Los Angeles neighborhood.

He chose the name Gon Bops because “Gon” was one of the colloquial expressions of the time, as in, “everything is gone, man” – and “Bops” because his friends nicknamed him Bob, which sounded like “Bop” in the Latino dialect.

While Bobadilla’s drums remained true to the classic Cuban shape, he was a genuine innovator in the development of drum hardware. He designed the first teardrop crown with rounded counter hoops, developed to protect players’ hands – a concept that is now universally accepted.

He also gave birth to the first tunable hardware for congas and bongos in the United States. Having witnessed Cuban conga players heating up drums in their kitchens prior to performing, Bobadilla decided there had to be a simpler more reliable method to tension these instruments.

Other innovations from the young company were Taroles (wooden timbales), the first pre-mounted replacement heads for congas, chromatic tuned cowbells and numerous stands, adapters and other hardware.

Gon Bops enjoyed great early success. The instruments were highly sought after by the top players of the era – giants like Alex Acuna, Mongo Santamaria, Francisco Aguabella, Armando Peraza, Poncho Sanchez, Jose Hernandez and Rich Barrientos – all of whom contributed invaluable R&D input. Gon Bops quickly became the undisputed leader in Latin percussion instruments and remained so throughout the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s.

Mariano remained deeply committed to a hands-on role in production and retained complete control of the design and fabrication of all his products. As a result, Gon Bops instruments were mainstays on the biggest stages around the world, including the massive Woodstock festival in 1969.

But the winds of change were sweeping through the American percussion industry. By the time the 1980’s rolled around, all of the major US percussion manufacturers had moved offshore to manufacture their instruments.

Cheap Asian labor costs meant greater profits. But as manufacturing costs decreased, so did quality, and for that reason Bobadilla refused to mover his production outside of the US. As a result, Gon Bops began to struggle financially. Unable to compete against his larger competitors, Bobadilla had no choice but to close the doors of his highly regarded company.Thankfully, that was not to be the end of the Gon Bops brand.

In 2001 Don Lombardi of US drum manufacturer DW bought the company along with all of its patents and trademarks. Lombardi had met Bobadilla in 1978 when he used Gon Bops Timbale shells to build DW brass snare drums, and subsequently had continued to seek R&D advice from Bobadilla.

It was a great fit, and it was no coincidence that the quality of DW drums and hardware continued to grow after the Gon Bops acquisition.

To run his newly acquired Gon Bops brand Lombardi hired the best drum craftsmen in the US. He even bought San Francisco-based Sol Percussion in order to conscript its founder – drum builder Akbar Moghaddam – to the Gon Bops cause.

Moghaddam brought along fellow drum craftsman Octavio Ruiz, and Lombardi teamed them up with Alejandro Perez, a drum builder who had worked with Mariano Bobadilla in the original Gon Bops factory.

In 2010 cymbal-maker SABIAN Inc. announced that it had purchased the inventory, intellectual property, patents and manufacturing equipment of Gon Bops from DW.

The deep commitment to innovation that SABIAN applied to its own instruments had inspired founder Robert Zildjian and his son, SABIAN President Andy Zildjian, to a search for like-minded instrument companies available for acquisition. And it was a happy circumstance had Lombardi had begun to seek a buyer for Gon Bops.

“We’re excited to begin this new chapter in SABIAN and Gon Bops history”, notes Andy Zildjian. “Gon Bops instruments are a perfect blend of vintage craftsmanship and innovative thinking. Since its founding in 1954, the company has pioneered several features and improvements that have forever changed Latin instruments.

We are excited about not only expanding distribution, but also continuing to focus on groundbreaking designs that represent clear improvements in meeting the needs of musicians. The pursuit of the best sound is what our craftsmen work for every day. We know the fit is perfect, above all, because sound matters.”

Today, Gon Bops remains one of the oldest and most respected manufacturers of Latin instruments in the world.

Did you know that more than 60 personalities and artists come together in the Puerto Rican Virtual Parade

North America/ Puerto Rico / Puerto Rico

The fervor and love for Puerto Rico have overflowed in the call for the first Puerto Rican Virtual Parade with the aim of not interrupting a 62-year tradition of the great party that is celebrated in New York City.

Dedicated to the great master of the timbal Tito Puente, a large number of personalities of the stature of Hollywood actors Edward James Olmos, who launched a phrase that will last for history, saying present “I was not born in Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico was born in me”.

Olmos was also joined by the popular and versatile actor Luis Guzmán, Rodrigo Massa, Juan Pablo Di Pace, Luis Ramos from the Power series and Delilah Cotto from Empire and Hulk, as well as Puerto Rican Major League Baseball player Yadier Molina who will present her daughter Ari D and directors José Javi Ferrer and Virginia Romero, the popular Super Yadira, Vanessa de Roide, Top Model Monique Alexandra and many more.

This year three kings said yes to their people, the Queen of Reggaeton Ivy Queen, who also started the urban movement La Leyenda Vico C and the King of Hearts, Manny Manuel.

Also present at this important event will be the group MDO, the artists Baby Rasta and Gringo, Melina León, Tito Nieves, Daniela Droz, Giselle, Víctor Santiago, Javyy L’amour, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Lalo Rodríguez, The Martínez Brothers, Tito Puente Jr., Tito Rojas, Julio Sanabria, Luis Damon, Hip Hop Jibarito, Grizelle “La Chichi” del Valle, DJ NEGRO, DJ Playero and Michael Stuart.

Among the invited international artists are Soleil from Argentina, Toño Rosario, Fulanito, Yolanda Duke and Proyecto Uno from the Dominican Republic, the Salsa Institution, Adolescents from Venezuela and Ms. Dayana from Cuba.

Darma Diaz, councilor of the 37th district of New York City, stated that she was pleasantly surprised by the response of the artists, the media and the general public, “which represents one more demonstration of what Puerto Rican Pride is and how capable we are of rise up in the face of adversity”.

The Puerto Rican Virtual Parade will be broadcast through the Vivalivetv application on channel 1 “it will be totally free as a way to globalize this project and that wherever there is a Puerto Rican in the world or a Latino, they can enjoy this party” said Jhon Sepúlveda Vice President of Vivalivetv operations.

The artistic production of this event is in charge of the company Miami Talents and the editing and post-production in charge of the three-time winner of the Sovereign Award in the Dominican Republic, Hugo Oscar Chávez Baldera.

Website: https://paradavirtualpr.com/

Press contacts

Puerto Rico:

Jeanette Delgado

+1 787.645.0966

Luis Conte: A great percussionist respected all around the world

Luis Conte is recognized as one of the most respected and prolific percussionists in contemporary music. Famous and respected around the world, this Cuban artist has backed acts such as James Taylor, Madonna, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, Shakira, Aretha Franklin, Céline Dion, Selena and hundreds more.

The Grammy winning musician Luis Conte known for flawless technique and an unparalleled ability to seamlessly incorporate Latin percussion and world drumming into popular music. He is a master of percussion instruments such as the cajon, congas, timbales, bongos, clave, cowbell, shakers, maracas, pandeiros, and guiro. In addition to Latin and World rhythms, Luis teaches Hip-Hop, Electronica, Jazz, Reggae and many other styles.

Conte is originally from Santiago de Cuba, where he grew up surrounded by the most authentic traditions of traditional popular music and the strong rhythmic presence of the music from Santiago. Living in Santiago he could see and hear the Santiago conga, the carnivals, the street rumbas. His father took him to events. He also remembers the Santiago trova. There was always music in his house and his father’s troubadour friends played. To all this he attributes a lot of his way of playing and interpreting all forms and styles of music.

Very young he emigrated to Spain and then to the United States, there he settled in Los Angeles. In this city he began his musical career as a guitarist in various rock groups. Later he developed his talent on drums and percussion at Los Angeles City College, he quickly became one of the most respected percussionists internationally.

Conte proved himself versatile musically, at the age of 18 he began to move in the musical circle, and by 1973, he was playing regularly in local clubs. He quickly became a busy studio musician, and throughout the 1970s, he played in the Latin Jazz band Caldera. His first tour was in 1974 with The Hues Corporation, they had a hit titled “Rock the Boat”. From there everything continued, always making new contacts and relationships with musicians and, since then, he has worked with countless artists and recorded on more than 2,000 albums.

Some of Luis’ musical influences :

All the drummers that play in Carnival in Santiago
Tata Guines
Mongo Santa Maria
Papin
Patato Valdez
Armando Peraza
Francisco Aguabella
Airto Moreira

His live performance and touring career took off when he joined Madonna’s touring band in the 1980s. To date, Conte has built an extremely successful career including a run composing and playing in ABC TV’s Dancing with the Stars band, among dozens or hundreds of other tv and film projects.

His debut as a bandleader came in 1987, when he released La Cocina Caliente, which included a Latinized version of Chopin’s “Susarasa”. Conte also played percussion on the Pat Metheny Group release ‘We Live Here’, in 1995, on the Pat Metheny ‘From This Place’, in 2020 as well as I Mother Earth’s first two albums Dig (1993) and Scenery and Fish (1996).

Conte has toured as part of James Taylor’s “Band of Legends.” He has also played alongside such famed musicians as Alex Acuña, Jaguares, Larry Klimas, and David Garfield, both as a bandleader and a sideman.

Luis Conte was part of Phil Collins 1997 “Dance into the Light” tour and 2004 “First Farewell Tour”, performing in both of them Afro-Cuban percussion and adding more depth into the concert songs. He also performed during The Phil Collins Big Band tours in 1996 and 1998 and again during the Phil Collins Not Dead Yet tours 2017/2018. In 1999 Conte collaborated in Maná MTV Unplugged project.

The cinema has also had the collaboration of this great artist who has participated in the recording of the soundtracks of well-known titles of contemporary filmography such as Transformers (1 and 2), The Lost City (Andy García), Hankock, Rain Man, Mission: Impossible, The Italian Job, among others.

He transmits his knowledge

Knowledge is nothing if it is not shared so that more people can progress and grow music, and Luis Conte knows it. For this reason he began the following initiatives.

Luis Conte has created an extensive repository of world percussion lessons. Students in the percussion course have unlimited access to a collection of guided, high quality percussion lessons and an extensive library of play-along tracks.

In addition, it has its own line of drumsticks and instruments supported by Meinl Percussion and the company of instruments of Zildjian. Has launched its line of congas, drums and shakers that was unveiled at the NAMM Show (2005).

Conte has the Guide to Latin Percussion Vol. I in its 2nd Edition, with the aim to help you become a well-equipped percussionist capable of performing comfortably in the most common musical situations within the Afro-Caribbean/Brazilian spectrum.

Proud to be Cuban

Luis Conte has always shown a deep love for his country. He carries his name with pride wherever he goes. In 2009 he had the opportunity to return to Cuba and it was a dream come true.

In an interview he stated: “When I returned to Cuba I realized that it had not been complete, my heart was missing something and that was to be back in Cuba, I am already whole.”

Conte listens and always tries to be aware of what is happening musically in Cuba. Cuba is a source of music.

He eagerly awaits the opportunity to travel to Cuba and be able to play with the great interpreters of the island.

For him, the Cuban is in the field with its royal palms, the sea breeze, the beaches, the mountains of the East, cane, tobacco and rum… the rumba, the changüí, the danzón, the mambo, the son, the tres guitar, the tomb, the bongo and the harpsichord… the maracas and the güiro. Always affirms: “Cuba is Cuba!”

Luis Conte’s Discography

In addition to having participated in countless albums for various artists, many of them worldwide success, Luis Conte has his own discography, among which is:

La Cocina Caliente, Denon Records (1988)
Black Forest, Luis Conte, Denon Records (1978, Realización 1989)
The Road, Luis Conte (1995)
Cuban Dreams, Luis Conte, Rounder Records (2000)
Dvd Luis Conte Signature Congas, Meinl
Dvd Live At Pas, Luis Conte
Dvd Studio Percussionist, Luis Conte (2003)
Dvd The Latin Jazz Trio, Luis Conte, David Garfield, David Carpenter.
A Coat Of Many Colors, Wolds Drummers Ensemble, Summerfold (2006)
Marímbula, Luis Conte, (2007)
Dvd The Ultimate Drummers Weekend, 10th Anniversary, Dave Weckl Band (2010)
En Casa De Luis, Luis Conte Bmf Jazz (2011)
Our World in Song, Wu Man, Luis Conte Y Daniel Ho. Wind Music International (2014)

Deserved awards

Luis Conte’s genius stems from his ability to integrate the powerful rhythms of his native Cuba with the American necessities of American pop music. His long and varied career has included numerous awards.

“Percussionist of the Year” – Modern Drummer Reader’s Poll (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)

“Percussionist of the Year” – Drum Magazine (2007, 2008, 2009)

“Studio Percussionist of the Year” – Drum Magazine (2007, 2008, 2009)

Nominated for the 2015 Grammy Awards in the category of “Best Music Album in the World” for Our World in Song, Wind Music International (2014).

From 2018, is the Cultural Ambassador of Instituto Latino de la Música (ILM).

New plans are coming

For this 2020, Conte had a tour scheduled with James Taylor, but the dates have been postponed and are being rescheduled to 2021, so no one will be left wanting to see his magnificent presentation

” I really don’t know how I got started playing. As far back as my memory will go, I owned a drum. It’s like asking someone how long they’ve been breathing.”